Electric furnace.



F. M. OHAPLET & A. RBMOND ELECTRIC FURNACE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.19,1907.

923,01 8. Patented May 25, 190

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FREDERIO MARIE CHAPLET OF LAVAL, AND ALEXANDRE REMOND, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

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and the object of our improvements is tosimplify the construction of such furnaces. I Referring'to the accompanying drawings, which represent embodiments of the present invention, Figure l is a longitudinal section of afurnace; Fig. 2 is a top view thereof, the demo 1" being removed; Figs. 3 and t are views (like 1 and?) ofa modification,

and Fig. 5 is a cross-section of either form of furnace, in order to show the form of passageway hereinafter mentioned.

The furnace comprises two distinct tanks or compartments A and B, which may be of any desired form. Compartment A, will, as shown, usually be of greater capacity than tank B.

Electrodes, for producing the are or electrical resistance, in order to effect the fusion of the contents of the tanks or compartments, dip downwardly into said tanks or compartments. In Fig. 1, electrode C (preferably of graphite) dips into compartment A, whileelectrode C (of metal or carbon, according to circumstances) dips into compartment B. Both electrodes are properly connected with conductors, and constitute parts of the fusing circuit. In either tank, more than one electrode may be used. I Fig. shows compartment 11 provided with two electrodes C and C,which is preferred in the case of large compartments. Tank A may, as shown, be provided with a suitable cover or dome F, and the electrode or electrodes movable either mechanically or .by hand slidably fit through openings thereof. I

it is the characteristic and essential feature of this invention that the sole means of communication between. the tanks or compartments A and B is by means of a passageway D formed in the furnace itself and continuing from one tank to the other and in the bottom of both.

During use of the furnace, the passageway is filled with conducting material, which may he of the same nature as the product to snch as iron or steel, for examinsures electrical Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 19, 1907.

Patented May 25 1909.

Serial No. 363,292.

communication between compartments A and B. Whatever its form, for the desired results, it need comply only with the following conditions :it should form a sulliciently tight oint for retaining the conducting material even if fused, it should be sufficiently long to permit of ready cooling either of tank B or electrode C of sufficient crosssection to prevent excessive resistance to the passage of current; its construction should be such that at the time of running off the product from tank l-i, the liquid in the passageway is not discharged sufiiciently to interrupt the electric current.

Tapping hole E or E (or both) is formed in the furnace, at an appropriate level, pref erably above the passageway D, for running off the'substance treated in the tank A.

The furnace is composed of any suitable refractory substance, nonconductive of electricity, and the same is true of cover if (when used) which may be silicia, magnesia,

etc, or even of carbon if a resistance to exceedingly high temperature is required.

If desired, the tank B or its contents may be cold or cooled artificially or naturally.

- ith a furnace of the kind illustrated and described, it is possible, to re-fuse the metals or. metallic alloys; to reduce the oxide in orderto directly. obtain metals either pure or alloyed; or to refine metals.

The furnace is particularly adapted to the manufacture of exceedingly pure steels from ordinary primary materials which are relatively impure.

What we claim is: l

In an electric furnace having two distinct compartments and a communicating passage forming the connecting means between the said compartments and containing: the conducting material, an open compartment receiving a carbon or metal electrode plunging into the conducting mass; a closed compartment or laboratory receiving a carbon electrode forming an arc with the molten metallic surfact, and a tap formed in the wall of. 

